Legal Events

Ex parte Joseph Smith (Nauvoo Municipal Court): After a hearing on the return of habeas corpus pertaining to Joseph Smith's arrest on the Missouri charge of treason, the Nauvoo Municipal court ordered Smith be discharged "for want of substance in the warrant ... as well as upon the merits of the case."

Joseph Smith, insulted by Hancock Co. tax collector Walter Bagbee, struck him, knocking him to the ground. Joseph Smith asked Daniel H. Wells to allow him to plead guilty to Assault and Battery and pay a fine. Wells refused, saying in his opinion the blow was justified. Joseph Smith went to Justice of the Peace Aaron Johnson, who took the plea and Joseph Smith paid the fine.

Joseph Smith continued hearing rumors that people in Carthage, Illinois, were determined to raise a mob "to drive the Mormons out of the state."

Joseph Smith read a letter from former Illinois Governor Thomas Carlin written to Sidney Rigdon attempting to clear Rigdon of rumors that he had used his influence "to have Joseph Smith arrested and delivered to the Missourians." Joseph Smith called Carlin's letter "evasive" and "a design to hide the truth," but wondered who could have been "concerned in a conspiracy" to deliver him to Missouri.